Surface and pore structure of alumina derived from xerogel/aerogel

The alkyl derivatives of boehmite were prepared by solvothermal reaction of aluminum isopropoxide in n-alcohols (ethanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol and 1-dodecanol) and the products were recovered as aerogel/xerogel by the removal of the solvent at the end of reaction. Aerogel or xerogel can be obtained simply by using only a reaction vessel (autoclave) and the obtained products were composed of plate-like particles having a well-developed boehmite structure. The alumina powders obtained by calcination of these products had relatively large pore-volumes ranging from 1.35 to 2.56 cm3/g. Transformation into α-Al2O3 was retarded even after calcination at 1200 °C. The effect of n-alcohols used in the solvothermal reaction on the phase, morphology and pore-texture of the alumina samples are discussed.